John Simpson

Born in Gloucestershire in 1975, John Simpson first studied at the Universiy of Gloucestershire and then later at The Cambridge School of Art. John Simpson's prints and drawings originally made an impact with installations for streetwear brand Carhartt and Carnaby Street's Deal Real records, as well as with collaborations with Fashion Designer Wale Adeyemi. After a sell-out first show, he exhibited in London and New York and has most recently returned from a major solo show in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Simpson's primary medium is the Monotype, a process that is recognised as the most direct and painterly form of Printmaking. Using a combination of drawing and painting in oil based ink; multiple layers are used to create the final image. 'The Monotype print process extends the possibilities of traditional drawing, the marks are made by anything which applies pressure to the surface, even just hands for a very direct approach'. Drawing has always been the most important element in Simpson's work, which relates to the graphic tradition of artists like Francisco Goya and Edvard Munch. His work references the world of folk tale and myth, exploring the relationship between the human figure and animal forms. Often introducing contemporary elements to these classical subjects, Simpson's imagery seems caught somewhere between childhood imagination and adult reasoning. His ability to capture the physical and psychological nature of these creatures can both disquiet and enchant in equal measure.

Prices range from:

Briar Patch
screenprint

Minotaur Study
screenprint

View all prints by John Simpson

cambridge contemporary art

cambridge contemporary crafts

Newsletter

Own Art Loan Scheme